Grants / Department of State / Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor

SFOP0007769: DRL Strengthening Women’s Participation in the Workforce

Closed Closed May 25, 2021 Opportunity SFOP0007769 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: FY26 DRL/IRF Global Request for Statements of Interest (DFOP0019929). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$1.9 million
• Award floor$1.0 million
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL's preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor awards averaged $31.2 million; this notice allows up to $1.9 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (99% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that enable women workers to participate more fully in the workforce. Background: Women, half of the global workforce, face multiple barriers to their full and equal participation at work, limiting their economic contributions over the course of their lives. Numerous studies have shown that barriers to women's participation in the workforce stifle national economies – that an increase in women's labor force participation results in faster and more inclusive economic growth, and that increasing the share of household income controlled by women changes spending in ways that benefit their families and communities. Improving work conditions and addressing constraints to workforce participation for vulnerable women workers is one step toward unleashing women’s economic potential in order to maximize global economic growth and stability. Increasing women’s economic participation throughout their lives strengthens prospects for economic growth, and benefits families, communities, and countries. The challenges that women face are unique and often not taken into account when groups advocate for worker rights, creating safe work environments, and developing leadership skills. Challenges include unequal pay and lack of wage transparency; discrimination in hiring and job evaluation; gender-discriminatory personal status laws limiting freedom of movement; women’s ability to work outside the home without a male guardian’s permission; family demand and expectations; gender-based violence and harassment; safe and accessible transportation; lack of parental leave and affordable care for children and family; inadequate representation in worker organizations; inflexible or unpredictable hours and scheduling; and unsafe and unsanitary work conditions.

Category: Other.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0019929, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.